JPH05265589A - Portable information processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the operation of a track ball and that of a click button smoothly by arranging the track ball on the display plane of a display part cabinet, and providing the click button at a position within the range of the finger of a hand which operates the track ball. CONSTITUTION:A main body cabinet 1 is connected to the display part cabinet 2 with a turning mechanism 3, and the track ball 5 is arranged on the same plane as the display plane 4 consisting of a liquid crystal display. The click buttons 6a, 6b are arranged at a plane opposite to the track ball 5 arranged on the display plane 4 of the liquid crystal display. An operator places the second finger of the right hand on the click button 6a, and the third finger of the left hand on the click button 6b, and performs the operation so as to pinch the display part cabinet 2 with the first, second, and third fingers. Thereby, it is possible to perform pointing work by using the track ball smoothly similarly as when work by using a mouse is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laptop or notebook type portable information processing device having a trackball and a click button.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mouse has been very often used as a pointing device for stationary information processing equipment. On the other hand, when using a mouse as a pointing device for a portable information processing device that is easy to carry, it is inconvenient to always carry the mouse. It was equipped with a trackball and click buttons and was used as a pointing device.

[0003]

However, when the trackball and the click button on the main body keyboard are provided as in the above-mentioned conventional example, for example, the cursor on the screen is moved to select an icon. When working, first move the cursor over the icon by operating the trackball with your finger, then move your finger away from the trackball onto the click button and then click the button to move the icon. It is necessary to perform the operation of selecting. This operation has a drawback that a smooth operation cannot be performed as compared with the case where the same operation is performed using a mouse, because a series of operations are cut off in the middle.

In order to use the trackball and click button with the same smoothness as when using a mouse, the trackball may be operated with one hand and the click button may be operated with the other hand. In this case, there is also a problem that it is not possible to perform a pointing operation with one hand and a keyboard input with the other hand as in the case of using a mouse.

Further, when the trackball and the click button are arranged close to each other on the keyboard, for example, the trackball is operated by the first finger of the right hand while the other fingers, for example, the second finger and the third finger are operated. By using a method such as operating the click button with, it is possible to work with only one hand, similar to using a mouse,
There is a problem that the efficiency of the work is significantly impaired because the arrangement of the fingers becomes extremely unnatural.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information processing device which can naturally operate a trackball and a click button with one hand.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a portable information having a main body housing having a keyboard and a display housing connected to the main body housing by a rotating mechanism. The processing device has a trackball arranged on a display surface on a display housing, and at least one click button arranged at a position within a range of a finger of one hand for operating the trackball. It adopts a portable information processing device.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention using a personal computer as an example. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body housing of a personal computer, 2 denotes a display unit housing 1 that opens and closes on the main body housing 1, and the main body housing 1 and the display unit housing 2 rotate. It is connected by the mechanism 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a display surface composed of a liquid crystal display, and the trackball 5 is arranged on the same surface as the display surface 4.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the first embodiment of the personal computer of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 6a and 6b indicate click buttons arranged on the surface opposite to the trackball arranged on the display surface of the liquid crystal display. The click button 6a corresponds to the left click button of the mouse, and the click button 6b corresponds to the right click button of the mouse. The operator places the first finger of the right hand on the trackball 5, and places the second finger of the right hand on the click button 6a and the third finger of the right hand on the click button 6b, and the first finger, the second finger, and the third finger. Operate it so that the display housing is sandwiched by your fingers. The click button 6 has a structure that does not click unless a certain amount of pressure is applied, and does not click when touched.

Usually, when a mouse is used as a pointing device, the second finger of the right hand is placed on the left click button, and the third finger of the right hand is operated on the right click button. In the case of the arrangement as in the example, the operation feeling is very similar to that of the mouse, and therefore extremely smooth operation can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the personal computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 7a and 7b denote click buttons arranged on the ridge 8 closest to the trackball 5 among the four ridges forming the surface facing the display surface. Also in this case, as in the first embodiment, the click button 7a corresponds to the left click button of the mouse, and 7b corresponds to the right click button of the mouse. Further, the click has a structure that requires a certain amount of pressure. The operation method is the same as in the first embodiment,
The first finger of the right hand is placed on the trackball 5, the second finger of the right hand is placed on the click button 7a and the third finger of the right hand is placed on the click button 7b, and the display surface is formed by the first finger, the second finger, and the third finger. Operate it so that the case is sandwiched.

When the click button is arranged on the edge as in the second embodiment, the surface case does not have a discontinuous portion as in the case of the first embodiment. The effect is that there is no fear of damaging.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the click buttons 7a and 7b are changed in shape 9 such as a dent or a protrusion.
It is also possible to have a structure having a and 9b. By having the shape change in this way, when the finger is once released from the click button and then returned to the click button, it is not necessary to visually confirm the position of the click button, so that the operation efficiency is improved. There is an effect.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention,
While operating the trackball with the first finger of one hand, the click button can be operated with the second finger and the third finger, and at that time, there is no unnaturalness in the arrangement of the fingers. By doing so, when performing the pointing work using the trackball, the work can be performed with the same smoothness as when using the mouse, and the keyboard operation can be performed with one hand while performing the pointing operation with one hand. It is possible to perform various kinds of work and to arrange the fingers naturally, so that work efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a personal computer as an example,
It is a front perspective view of the Example of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the first embodiment of the personal computer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a personal computer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a click button having a shape change.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main body case 2 Display unit case 3 Rotation mechanism 4 Display surface 5 Trackball 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b Click button 9a, 9b Dent or protrusion on click button

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 23, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A portable information processing device having a main body housing having a keyboard and a display housing connected to the main housing by a turning mechanism, wherein a track arranged on a display surface of the display housing. A portable information processing device comprising: a ball and at least one click button arranged at a position within a range of a finger of one hand for operating a trackball. 2. The portable information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the click button is arranged on a side opposite to a display portion on which a trackball is arranged. 3. The portable information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the click button is arranged at an edge closest to a position where the trackball is arranged. 4. The portable information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a dent or a protrusion provided on the trackball.